Camera shutter control device



March 23, 1937. F. x. AICHELE 12,074,767

CAMERA SHUTTER CONTROL DEVICE Original Filed March 15, 1935 Patented Mar. 23, 1937] PATENT OFFICE CAMERA SHUTTER- CONTROL DEVICE Frank X. Aichele, East St. Louis, Ill.

Application March 15, 1935, Serial No. 11,366 Renewed February 1, 1937 2 Claims.

This invention relates to cameras, the primary object of the invention being to provide a camera shutter control device which will operate to automatically open and close the camera shut ter, photographing the objects with which the camera is in focus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shutter control device of this character embodying electrically actuated means for releasing a spring controlled latch mechanism, whereby the latch mechanism will operate immediately upon the completion of a circuit.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds,

7 the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, Without departing from the spirit of the inven tion.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a view illustrating a camera shutter actuating mechanism constructed in accordance with the invention, the camera shutter control device having been moved to operate the shutter control lever.

Figure 2 illustrates a modified form of a shutter control lever actuating mechanism, wherein the mechanism is automatically reset.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the main circuit of the device which playsan important part in the operation of the mechanism, includes I a switch 5, which is in circuit with the magnet I8 through the wires 19, there being'a transformer I! in the circuit whereby the electric wires of the circuit may be plugged into the usual house circuit.

The reference character 20 designates an armature that is attracted by the magnet 18, the armature 20 being pivotally supported adjacent to the-magnet, the free end of the armature resting on one end of the arm 2i, which is pivotally supported within the casing 'of the mechanism. The arm 2| includes a right a ngled end portion 22 formed with an enlargement 23 adapted to fit into the notch l4, formed in the periphery of the disc 24, normally holding the disc 24 against movement and at the same time holding the mechanism in its inactive position, or in a position to actuate the shutter lever with which the mechanism is associated.

Pivotally connected to the disc 24 is a bar 38 that is normally urged'in one direction by means of the coiled spring 39, there being provided a setting arm 40 connected to one end of the. bar 38, for moving the bar to set the mechanism.

Mounted within the case of the mechanism is a dog that engages the extension 42 of the 5 pivoted shutter operating arm 43 of the mechanism, normally holding the arm 43 in a set position. A coiled spring indicated by the reference character 44 has connection with the arm 43 and normally urges the arm in one direction. The arm 43 is moved to its set position by means of the pin 45, which is adapted to hold the arm 43 when the bar 38 has been returned to a set position.

Extending from the bar 38 is a pin 46 that is 15 adapted to engage the lower end of the dog Ali,

moving the upper end of the dog M out of engagement with the extension 32, allowing the spring 4 3 to snap the shutter operating arm, accomplishing the purpose of the invention, 20

As clearly shown by the drawing, the arm 43 engages the lever A? of the usual camera shutter operating mechanism, and when the arm 3 is operated, the lever ti is moved to the po sition shown by Figure 1, with the result that 25 the shutter is operated, and a photograph of the object with which the camera is in focus is made.

In the form of the invention shown by Figure 2 of the drawing, the reference character E53 designates a transformer in the circuit, wires (it leading from the transformer being in circuit with the magnet 65. The armature 66 of the magnet is normally contacting with the bell crank lever 61 that carriesa lug 68 near one end thereof. A coiled spring 69 connects with the bell crank lever and normally urges the lug 68 into the notch 25, formed in the periphery of the rotary disc 70, I which in turn is provided with teeth meshing with teeth formed on the periphery of the disc 10', thereby retarding the movement of the disc Ill when the device operates.

Eccentrically connected to the rotary disc 10' is a bar it thatis provided with an elongated opening 12, in which the pin 13 of the lever 14 extends. This lever 14 has an arm 15 whereby the lever 14 may be operated for manually setting the lever 14.

The upper end of the lever I4 is formed with a head 16,-which is provided with a shoulder engaged by the'hook Tl of the lever 18, the lever 18 being normally held against thepin l9 by-means of the coiled spring 80. V

A pin indicated by the reference character 8| extends from the bar H, and rises in the path of travel of the arm 78 to pick up the arm when the bar II moves in one direction, thereby tilting the arm I8 to release the lever H. A cam indicated by the reference character I03 is formed on the 5 periphery of the disc 10', and is adapted to engage the end I04 of the lever I05 as the disc I rotates. The end I04 of the lever I is normally held into engagement with the cam I03, by means of the spring I 06. A shoulder is formed at one end of the lever I05 and engages the arm I01 of the lever I08, which lever I08 engages the shutter control lever I00 of the camera.

As clearlyshown by the drawing, the levers I08 and M are urged toward each other by means of the coiled spring H0, and spring III, this construction being such that when the bar ll moves laterally under the action of the springs H0 and I I I, the lever 78 will be released. It will, of. course, be understood that the cam I03 will act to release the lever I00, the spring H0 operating the lever I08 to move the shutter control lever I09 of the camera, taking a picture. A pin I I5 extends laterally from the bar II, and when the device is in a set position, rests against-the lever I08 and is adapted to move the lever I 00 to its set position by the action of the heavy spring III that has connection with the lever 70 at one of its ends, the opposite end of the spring being anchored at IIB. Thus it will be seen that after the device operates to photograph an object, the device is automatically reset, through the action of the springs.

In the operation of the apparatus as shown by Figure 1 of the drawing, the apparatus in its set position will be moved so that the lug 23 engages in the notch I 0 of the disc 20, which movement causes the armature 20 to disengage the magnet I0. When the switch 5 is closed, electric current passes to the magnet I0, which attracts the armature 20;, moving the arm 2i downwardly, with the result that the end portion 22 of the arm 2| rocks, disengaging the lug 23 from the notch Id. The disc 20 now moves in the direction of the arrow by the action of the spring 39. .As the bar 30 is moved by the action of the spring 39, the pin 46 engages the dog 4|, moving the dog 4| out of contact with the extension 42 of the arm 43, whereupon the spring moves the arm 43 against the shutter lever 01 of the camera, which results in operating the shutter of the camera, photographing an object.

In the form of the invention as shown by Figure 2 of the drawing, the circuit is completed to the magnet by closing the manually operated switch 5 of the mechanism, whereupon the armature B6 is attracted, which movement actuates the bell crank lever 01, moving the lug 08 from the notch disposed in the periphery of the rotary disc I0. The disc I0 is now free to rotate under the action of the coiled spring III, which pulls the bar II to the right.

When the lever I08 moves into engagement with the stop pin H5, the spring H0 will act to move the lever l0- to the left until the pin en-, gages the end of the elongated opening I2. The coiled spring III now advances the lever i l toward the lever I08, where the pin H6 moves the lever I08 to its set position. I

. I claim:

1. A device of the character described, comprising the combination with a camera and the shutter thereof, of a camera shutter control device embodying a disk, a bar connected with the disk and adapted to rotate the disk, yieldable means for urging the bar in one direction to operate the disk, means operated by the bar for operating the camera shutter and electrically controlled means adapted to release the disk and bar to the action of the yieldable means.

2. A device of the character described, com prising the combination with a camera and shutter thereof, of a camera control device embodying a disk, 2. bar pivotally connected with the disk, yieldable means adapted to operate the bar and disk, a latch member normally holding the disk against movement, electrically controlled means for releasing the disk and bar to the action of the yieldable means, and means controlled by the bar for operating the shutter of the camera FRANK X. AICHELE. 

